MIFF HUB, this year, with a pragmatic approach, aims to provide a vibrant B2B platform and meeting point for documentary filmmakers to network, interact and develop productive contacts with International and Indian mentors, funders, commissioning editors, broadcasters, distributors and co-producers.
As like its earlier edition, several round table sessions were held where the documentary filmmakers were enlightened with tips from the industry experts about what to do and ‘What not to do’ which provided a great help to them.
“In festivals abroad, there is a Festival Programme and then an Industry Programme that covers all the workshops other than the screening,” says Rashmi Lamba, Manager of MIFF HUB, a filmmaker with over 20 years experience internationally, having gained experience working at various capacities at Festivals in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Toronto.
“This time, we also have something called Speed Dating where immediately after the Round Table, a filmmaker can thereafter request a personal discussion with the expert for a brief period. It is an unscheduled or impromptu meeting. It is little more than that. We actually match them and direct the person to the right expert on guidance on funding, methods of distribution.”
“We also have opened up to delegates who have to come to watch films, and who also have projects subject to them sending prior details about their project thru the form available on the website,” Rashmi mentioned.
“All big players are targeting the commercial films on Digital Media, which is such a powerful medium that helps the documentary and content driven films, which otherwise don’t see a proper marketing release,” said Piiyush Singh of Muvizz.com who lead the Group Discussion.
Today’s Round Table Discussions had Mathieu Roy, Siddharth Kak, Ruchi Bhimani, Hemal Trivedi among other experts.
“Ruchi Bhimani had come to us the last time with her project which eventually received funding and now she is an International Producer. Not just this, we have Special Presentation every day like the YES Foundation Yes Bank Foundation which has a Film Challenge called Yes I am the Change. They were keen to meet and talk to the serious filmmakers. They made a presentation of some of the high content films they had,” says Rashmi.
Siddharth Kak of Cinema Vision India said, “As compared to 25-30 years ago, the cost of making a film and the time has reduced considerably with the convenience of Technology with the Digital Platform today.”
Mr Kak also mentioned about the ambiguity in minds of documentary filmmakers who have to specifically make film either for the Festivals keeping in mind of the thinking audience and not to tread on the other category that appeals to mass audience. There is no point in trying to sprinkle the entertainment angle in a documentary, without changing the DNA of the film. ‘You must be true to your film” advised the veteran filmmaker.
Mathieu Roy, a producer from Canada had to say that having a good idea is not enough. It is how the filmmaker visualizes the narration and the execution of the project.
“You don’t have a second chance in the business of pitching your concept of your documentary film. One can’t be loose and approximative. I would not fund a film if the filmmaker fails in making me interested in the project,” adds Roy.
The line up for 2nd February has Arun Thapar of Discovery Networks 18, Nasreen Kabir of Channel 4 and Raveena Kohli of EPIC Channel leading the Round Table Discussions with filmmakers.
“Tomorrow we have Satya Raghavan, Head of Content, YouTube India – they want some serious content and will take the filmmakers through their talk, ‘How to best use YouTube and how to make it remunerative.’
The filmmakers can gain insights from Round Table discussions with the International industry stalwarts and Indian decision makers on a first come basis. These discussions are moderated and timed to enable the participants to have brief interactions with the Speakers at each table. Participants at these Round Tables also have the benefit of listening in to the other queries and pitches among the groups.
One-on-one Meetings were set up through pre-scheduled appointments or through Speed Dating for on-the-spot matchmaking. Registered film projects were accepted for discussion by the attending International and Indian experts based on relevance to their role and organisation.
Discussions and meetings at the MIFF HUB revolved around funding, modes of distribution, festival strategy and co-productions. Special efforts were made to arrange productive meetings for Filmmakers who have their documentaries in-development, under-production and completed films selected in the International and National Competition sections at MIFF.
